Garment-supporter.



E.'M. SMEDBERG. 1

GARMENT SUPPORTER- APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1913.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Wrap spar-as rarnn'r cri ics.

EDMUND M. SMEDBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. Y

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

Application filed April 10, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND M. SMED- BERG, a citizen of the United States, resid-. ing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment supporters and has for its object the production of a trousers supporter which shall be comfortable, convenient, and hygienic.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient means of supporting the trousers from the shoulders while at the same time avoiding the use of bands passing over the shoulders. I accomplish this purpose by a simple device by means of which the trousers are supported from the armholes of the vest.

I am aware of the fact that it has been suggested to use the vest as a means of supporting trousers and that various special forms of vests have been devised with this object in view, but these vests have never been used to any great extent, owing to the fact that a man ordinarily doesnot desire to buv a new garment or to have an old one altered when he is seeking means of supporting trousers. My invention obviates this diflicultv and provides a device by which the trousers may be supported from the vest without any alteration whatever of either the vest or the trousers.

Another object which I attain by my invention is that an easy and convenient way is provided for unfastening the suspenders when it is desired to remove the trousers. Ordinary suspenders must be completely unbuttonecl from the trousers in this case or the vest must be entirely removed in order that the suspenders may be slipped from the shoulders. By the use of my invention the trousers may be released by merely unhooking a link from a catch conveniently located and may be again fastened by merely slipping the link onto the catch.

A specific embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved trousers supporter; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the supporting member; Fig. 3 is a side view of the torso of a man showing my Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 760,177.

improved trousers supporter in operative position; and Fig. 4 is a front view of the torso of a man with his vest held open showing my trousers supporter ready to be detached.

- In the'form shown in the drawings, my improved trousers supporter consists of the supporting member 1, which is adapted to be slipped upon the lower part of the armhole of a vest. The supporting member comprises means to engage the lower edge of the armhole of the vest and a catch 2, or other means, for the attachment of the connecting member hereinafter mentioned. The means for engaging the armhole consists of two downwardly extending portions 3, 4, which form a sort of inverted flat hook which is hooked onto the lower edge of the armhole. The portions 3, 4, may be made to grip the cloth as tightly or loosely as desired. In the form shownin the drawings the supporting member is constructed of'a single piece of wire, whose ends are soldered or welded together. The wire is preferably covered with rubber or some soft material to obviate the possibility of wear. The two downwardly extending portions 3, 4:, are of diiferent sizes. These downwardly extending portions may be in the same plane or even bent toward each other, so that the cloth in passing between them is bent and thus the supporting member obtains a secure grip upon the vest. The extreme lower parts of the portions 3, 4, may be bent apart in order that the supporting member may be readily pushed upon the lower part of an armhole of the vest. The catch 2 of the supporting member is upon the member 33, which is inside the vest when the supporting member is placed in position upon the lower part of the armhole.

The supporting member is connected with the trousers by means of the connecting member. In the form shown in the drawings the connecting member consists of the link 6, which is adapted to be placed upon the catch 2 and from which depend the straps or bands 7, which maybe of any convenient material and which are adapted to be fastened to the trousers. In the form shown in the drawings, I use one continuous strap 7 which strap passes through the link 6 twice. Thus, there are depending from the link two ends and a bight. In

the strap as shown in the drawing, one of these ends has cut in it, the buttonhole 9, which is to be fastened to a button at the waistband of the trousers near the back. The other end of the s rap is attached to a wire button-hole or loop 8, which is to be attached to a button on the waistband of the trousers near the front. The strap is attached to this loop in such a way that its length may be varied, as, for example, by means of the cinch-knot 5. The depending bight of the strap passes through the wire button-hole or loop 8, which is to beattached to a button at the side of the trousers. This arrangement of the strap 7 permits it to run freely through the link 6 and the loop 8, thus changing the lengths of the different depending portions of the strap as movements of the body may require.

My improved trousers supporters are used in pairs. The supporting member is slipped upon the lower part of the armhole of the vest with the catch 2 inside. This may be done either before or after the vest is put on. The button-holes and loops 8,. 8, 9; are fastened to the ordinary suspender but tons. The vest is then buttoned up, leaving no portion of my suspenders visible except the part A of the supporting member, which, however, is visible only when the arm is raised. When thus in position my improved trousers supporters are very comfortable, in fact, are not felt at all. As the weight of the trousers is borne by the whole width of the shoulders it is not felt. The supporting member and link 6 are so flat that their presence cannot be felt even when the arm is pressed tightly against the side. As the strap 7 slips easily through the link 6 and the loop 8 the length of the depending parts of the strap adjust themselves to the movements of the body so that the strain upon the different suspender buttons is maintained uniform. In order to remove the trousers, it is only necessary to unbutton the upper part of the vest and then to unhook the link 6 from the catch 2 on each side. When the trousers are removed the straps and links remain fastened to them and need be unbuttoned only when a new pair of trousers is to be worn. The supporting members 1 remain attached to the vest even when the vest is removed and thrown about. Therefore, when it is desired to fasten up the trousers again, it is only necessary to slip the links 6 upon the catches 2, which can easily be done if the vest is partially unbuttoned.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the specific device shown and described. It is obvious that many changes could be made in this device without departing from the essentialidea of my invention. Thus, the supporting member 1 need not be of the shape shown, nor

need it be made of wire. Any form of hook which can readily be attached to an edge of cloth may be used. The means for attaching the supporting member to the trousers may consist of any form of straps or bands, which may, if desired, be elastic and may be fastened to the trousers at any desired number of points. Any of the many known means for varying the length of these straps or bands may be used, or they may be made of a fixed length if desired. Any equivalent of the link 6 may be used, or this part may be omitted altogether. Any means of attachment to the trousers may be used in the place of the button-holes and loops shown, as, for example, any well-known form of eye, hook or clasp.

The connecting member may be permanently rather than detachably connected to the supporting member. In this case it may be well to make the supporting member grip the cloth of the vest loosely, so that it may be easily slipped on and off, thereby aifording advantages similar to those of the detachable arrangement.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A trousers supporter comprising a supporting member adapted to engage the armhole of a vest and means for connecting said supporting member with the trousers.

2. A trousers supporter comprising a supporting member provided with means to engage the lower edge of the armhole of a vest and a connecting member detachably fastened to said supporting member provided with means for engaging the trousers.

8. A trousers supporter comprising asupporting member provided with two downwardly extending gripping portions adapted to engage the lower edge of the armhole of a vest and a connecting member fastened to said supporting member, provided with means for engaging the waistband of the trousers.

i. A trousers supporter comprising a supporting member provided with means to engage the lower edge of the armhole of a vest and one or more flexible bands fastened to said supporting member and depending therefrom.

5. A trousers supporter comprising a supporting member provided with means to engage the lower edge of the armhole of a vest and one or more flexible bands detachably fastened to said supporting member and depending therefrom.

6. A trousers supporter comprising a sup porting member adapted to engage the armhole of a vest, a link detachably connected to said supporting member, and means to support the trousers from said link.

7. A trousers supporter,comprising asupporting member consisting of a single continuous piece of wire forming two downwardly extending gripping portions of different sizes and a hook projecting upwardly from one of said downwardly extending portions; and means to support the trou- 5 sers from said hook.

8. A trousers supporter comprising a supporting member designed to engage and be supported by the armhole of a vest and means adapted when the supporter is being 10 worn to extend from said member to the trousers and to connect said member with the trousers.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 4th day of April, 1913.

EDMUND M. SMEDBERG.

Witnesses:

J NO. B. MOARTHY, CONVERSE D. WEST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0'. 

